Machine control system and method for analyzing agricultural material

Abstract

A system for analyzing agricultural material includes a bypass housing configured to receive the agricultural material, a metering conveyor disposed in the bypass housing, at least one sensor configured to detect a fill level of the agricultural material within the bypass housing, and a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to control a rate of operation of the metering conveyor based on the fill level detected by the at least one sensor.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for analyzing agricultural material, comprising:
 a bypass housing configured to receive the agricultural material;   a metering conveyor disposed in the bypass housing;   at least one sensor configured to detect a fill level of the agricultural material within the bypass housing; and   a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the controller configured to control a rate of operation of the metering conveyor based on the fill level detected by the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the system to:
 determine whether the at least one sensor is at least partially obstructed by the agricultural material at a first time;   increase the rate of operation of the metering conveyor to a starting speed based on the at least one sensor being at least partially obstructed by the agricultural material at the first time; and   reduce the rate of operation of the metering conveyor based on the at least one sensor being unobstructed by the agricultural material at the first time.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 increasing the rate of operation of the metering conveyor includes increasing a duty cycle of power to the metering conveyor; and   reducing the rate of operation of the metering conveyor includes reducing the duty cycle of power to the metering conveyor.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the system to:
 determine whether the at least one sensor is at least partially obstructed by the agricultural material at a second time;   increase the rate of operation of the metering conveyor based on the at least one sensor being at least partially obstructed at the second time; and   determine whether the at least one sensor is at least partially obstructed by the agricultural material at a third time based on the at least one sensor being unobstructed at the second time.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the system to:
 determine whether the rate of operation of the metering conveyor has reached a target value; and   determine whether the at least one sensor is at least partially obstructed by the agricultural material during at least one of the increasing the rate of operation of the metering conveyor at the second time or when the target value is reached.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the system to:
 increase the rate of operation of the metering conveyor in response to determining that the target value has not been reached and based on the at least one sensor being at least partially obstructed.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the system to:
 continue to determine whether the at least one sensor is at least partially obstructed with the agricultural material based on the target value being reached; and   decrease the rate of operation of the metering conveyor upon determining the at least one sensor is unobstructed.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the system to:
 determine whether the rate of operation of the metering conveyor is the same as the starting speed in response to the decrease of the rate of operation of the metering conveyor; and   if the rate of operation is the same as the starting speed, the controller is configured to,
 determine whether the at least one sensor is at least partially obstructed by the agricultural material, 
 reduce the rate of operation of the metering conveyor if the at least one sensor is unobstructed, and 
 increase the rate of operation of the metering conveyor if the at least one sensor is at least partially obstructed by the agricultural material; and 
   if the rate of operation is not the same as the starting speed, the controller is configured to,
 determine whether the at least one sensor is at least partially obstructed by the agricultural material, 
 increase the rate of operation of the metering conveyor until the target value is reached based on the at least one sensor being at least partially obstructed, and 
 decrease the rate of operation of the metering conveyor based on the at least one sensor being unobstructed. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises one or more of a moisture sensor, a near-infrared (NIR) sensor, a temperature sensor, a capacitive sensor, and a proximity sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bypass housing comprises:
 an inlet configured to receive at least a portion of the agricultural material;   a first chamber coupled to the inlet;   a first outlet coupled to the first chamber;   a second chamber coupled to the first chamber, the second chamber including the metering conveyor;   a funnel portion between the first chamber and the second chamber; and   a second outlet coupled to the second chamber.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the funnel portion is defined by at least a portion of a wall of the bypass housing extending along at least a portion of the metering conveyor from a first side of the bypass housing towards a second side of the bypass housing. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first chamber is upstream of the second chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein a width of the funnel portion tapers between the first chamber and the second chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the bypass housing is configured to direct the agricultural material on a first side of the bypass housing towards the second outlet at an increased rate compared to the agricultural material on a second side of the bypass housing opposite the first side. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the bypass housing is configured to separate the agricultural material into a first flow and a second flow, the first flow comprising a first density, the second flow comprising a second density, the first density being greater than the second density;   the bypass housing is configured to direct the first flow of the agricultural material along a first side of the bypass housing; and   the bypass housing is configured to direct the second flow of the agricultural material along a second side of the bypass housing opposite the first side.   
     
     
         16 . A method for controlling a rate of operation of a metering conveyor based on a fill level detected by at least one sensor, the method comprising:
 determining whether the at least one sensor is at least partially obstructed by agricultural material at a first time;   increasing the rate of operation of the metering conveyor to a starting speed based on the at least one sensor being at least partially obstructed by the agricultural material at the first time; and   reducing the rate of operation of the metering conveyor based on the at least one sensor being unobstructed by the agricultural material at the first time.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the increasing the rate of operation of the metering conveyor includes increasing a duty cycle of power to the metering conveyor; and   the reducing the rate of operation of the metering conveyor includes reducing the duty cycle of power to the metering conveyor.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 determining whether the at least one sensor is at least partially obstructed by the agricultural material at a second time;   increasing the rate of operation of the metering conveyor based on the at least one sensor being at least partially obstructed at the second time; and   determining whether the at least one sensor is at least partially obstructed by the agricultural material at a third time based on the at least one sensor being unobstructed at the second time.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 determining whether the rate of operation of the metering conveyor has reached a target value; and   determining whether the at least one sensor is at least partially obstructed by the agricultural material during at least one of the increasing the rate of operation or when the target value is reached.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 increasing the rate of operation of the metering conveyor in response to determining that the target value has not been reached and based on the at least one sensor being at least partially obstructed.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 continuing to determine whether the at least one sensor is at least partially obstructed with the agricultural material based on the target value being reached; and   decreasing the rate of operation of the metering conveyor upon determining the at least one sensor is unobstructed.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 determining whether the rate of operation of the metering conveyor is the same as the starting speed in response to the decreasing of the rate of operation of the metering conveyor; and   if the rate of operation is the same as the starting speed,
 determining whether the at least one sensor is at least partially obstructed by the agricultural material, 
 reducing the rate of operation of the metering conveyor if the at least one sensor is unobstructed, and 
 increasing the rate of operation the metering conveyor if the at least one sensor is at least partially obstructed by the agricultural material; and 
   if the rate of operation of the metering conveyor is not the same as the starting speed,
 determining whether the at least one sensor is at least partially obstructed by the agricultural material, 
 increasing the rate of operation of the metering conveyor until the target value is reached based on the at least one sensor being at least partially obstructed, and 
 decreasing the rate of operation of the metering conveyor based on the at least one sensor being unobstructed.